Perfume Review: Rose Angel by Thierry Mugler
January 24th, 2007
It goes without saying, Angel by Thierry Mugler is the Poison of the 90s. Olivier Cresp, its perfumer, intended to create “a perfume that was also a drug” (Perfume Legends, p.283). Its ingenious blend of caramel, chocolate, and patchouli has indeed accomplished that. Whether you favor Angel or not, it’ll be sure to alter your existence simply because you’re bound to smell it on others, and, once you smell it, you won’t forget it. My first encounter with the scent happened roughly four years ago when I instantly fell into a state of euphoria – I practically bathed in it, applying several spritzes per day (when one spritz would suffice perfectly). It was truly a drug. However, instead of developing a severe addiction, I actually grew intensely weary of it. Today, I still appreciate the scent but cannot bring myself to wear it. The latest addition to the Angel Garden of Stars collection (Lily Angel, Violet Angel, Peony Angel), Rose Angel is the only rendition I absolutely love and wear on occasion.
Rose Angel is not just Angel with a rose note. While its gourmand character is still present, the composition is all about honeyed rose enveloped in delicious berries and whipped into a chocolate pudding, with a little caramel on top. The patchouli in Rose Angel is but a connecting note, not the dominator. Rose Angel strikes me as a very smooth, lush, simultaneously satiny and velvety scent. In spite of being a fruity floral, it doesn’t follow the trends. It’s so versatile it can be easily worn with a comfy fleece robe and a sultry evening gown.
Rose Angel features the notes of rose, bergamot, jasmine, honey, dewberry, red berries, vanilla, caramel, patchouli, chocolate, coumarin. It can be purchased at department stores and online.
Image source: www.sephora.com
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14 Comments
1. tmp00 | January 25th, 2007 at 12:08 am
I have to admit I absolutely loathed Angel when it came out: I totally did not get it until I smelled it on a friend on whom it was divine. My mind was opened, and I think that was the bridge that led me to Borneo 1834.
I’m glad that they are expounding upon the original in new and innovative ways.
2. Ina | January 25th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Tom, Borneo is divine! As for Angel, I didn’t even smell it when it first came out. It somehow eluded me.
3. Patty | January 25th, 2007 at 5:35 am
The first time I smelled Angel, I ran in the opposite direction. it’s like Shalimar, can smell divine on others, but I wouldn’t even let Angel get that close to me.
4. chaya ruchama | January 25th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Oh, my friend-
I’m with pretty Patty here.
When I first anticipated Angel, purely on the release of the notes, I was SO excited…
Like Judith, I smelled it, and ran for cover !
5. Elle | January 25th, 2007 at 7:34 am
I swear Angel was pure evil on my skin for years, but one day retried it and something had happened and it was suddenly, inexplicably divine – in minute amounts. I don’t wear it any longer because, frankly, there are too many other scents to wear and life is short, but Rose Angel sounds intriguing, especially since I’m in a serious rose phase. Will get my derriere out to a store to smell it.
6. newproducts | January 25th, 2007 at 8:03 am
I’ve actually tried this one, and it smelled horrendous on me–sour fruity with a B.O. note. Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? I wish I got all the things you do. Chemistry!
7. Judith | January 25th, 2007 at 8:14 am
Well, I haven’t commented yet, but Chaya has indeed correctly described my reaction to my first sniff of Angel–I ran for cover! And I still do. But I pretty much hate chocolate in perfume, and for that reason I haven’t fully “got” Borneo either. Rose Angel is definitely my favorite of the group–that is to say, it doesn’t make me sick, as Violet Angel does–but I don’t think I’d wear it.
8. Leopoldo | January 25th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Like Judith, I dislike chocolate notes in most perfume (though the traces of it in Dior Homme and Vetiver Oriental are rendered beautifully, I think). Angel was (is?) the ubiquitous smell of London when I last lived there – it overwhelmed me. Rose Angel – I promise to try one day soon with an open mind.
9. Tommasina | January 25th, 2007 at 8:28 am
Tom, Borneo – though I *want* to love it – smells of old libraries with foxed and mildewed pages, with maybe a hint of dry cocoa in the background. Yves Rocher Cocoon is what Borneo *should* have been on me. Chemistry. Go figure. I have a client who comes to me for bodywork sessions who wears Angel and – OH! It’s all I can do to stay with her in the room and do my stuff. I have to fumigate when she’s gone.
Patty and Chaya – ooh yeah, with you on Shalimar: ICKY on me!
Sorry, Ina: didn’t mean to take over the blog… Have to go seek out Rose Angel and the others. I wondered if I might like the Violet version; what doesn’t work in it, for you?
10. Marina | January 25th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I absolutely adore this one. Truly my favorite Ange. This is one time when I was glad soemone made a sequel for a popular scent.
11. Victoria | January 25th, 2007 at 11:28 am
This is definitely my favourite Angel. That rose note is so perfect in the composition. It makes it just right, neither too sweet nor too heavy.
12. Gaia, the non-blonde | January 25th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I’m fond of the Innocent version, because it lacks that horrible pineapple note that turns my nose (and my stomach) in the original and its clones. This one sounds much better. I’ll go and sniff.
13. tmp00 | January 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Tommasina-
I’ll have to try Cocoon; I do get a bit of the mildewey library, but I like that.
Ina-
You missed it when it came out? How? I thought it was practically unavoidable? I was so glad to finally smell it on someone, out of the bottle it had me running, frantically crossing myself.
14. Tommasina | January 25th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Tom, I spent too many hours as a student of mediaeval literature to want to smell of old books! I’d be happy to send you some Cocoon if you don’t have ready access to any.